March 24, 2011
Kasich’s budget plan
Schools, city expect cuts in state funding By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A proposed two-year state budget unveiled by Gov. John Kasich last week has both the city and school district anticipating a reduction in state funds. The state’s biennial budget that begins in July had to cover an $8-billion deficit, and Dublin City Schools officials say they likely would see a reduction in funds if Kasich’s new “Jobs Budget” makes its way through the state legislature intact, although certainties remain elusive. District treasurer Stephen Osborne said the administration has a general idea of the proposed budget but is waiting for a district-by-district breakdown from the Office of Budget and Management.
“The main point is, details for the budget have been short,” he said. “There’s no way for us to pinpoint how it would affect our district. We anticipated reductions in this Stephen budget. There is an Osborne $8-billion deficit in the budget that he is trying to fill. We’re anticipating reductions, and at this point all of the details have not been released. We’re hoping to get something (this) week.” Details that have been released thus far show a loss for school districts in the tangible-personal-property-tax (TPP)
DCVB’s Dring: Reductions to state’s travel-tourism budget would hurt Dublin By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Some cities, schools and other groups that receive state funding were scrambling last week after Gov. John Kasich unveiled his two-year state budget that absorbed an $8-billion shortfall in revenues. Dublin Convention & Visitor Bureau executive director Scott Dring was relieved just to see the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism included
in the budget. “We were very pleased to be in there,” he said, adding that the budget plan includes an 8- to 10-percent decrease in funding. Scott Although the Dring DCVB doesn’t receive direct funding from the state – the lion’s share of the DCVB’s budget comes from the city bed tax – it de-
pends on the Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism to help bring people to the city, spend money in Dublin businesses and fill rooms at Dublin hotels. “(The Ohio Division of Travel & Tourism) has a great impact,” Dring said. “They do a lot of cooperative types of advertising partnerships. They bought a regional newspaper insert that will be in 45 different newspapers across the Midwest. For example, if See DCVB’S DRING:, page A2
See SCHOOLS, CITY, page A2
Council puts brakes on Brand Road bike trail plan By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Lorrie Cecil/ThisWeek
Dublin residents Mayu Yamase, Yurika Urano and Yuko Takayama, all 13, light other candles during a vigil outside Dublin Coffman High School on March 17 for residents of Japan following by the recent earthquake and tsunami. (Below) Six-year-old Sakuya Kitamura of Dublin and 6-yearold Ibuki Shimizu of Powell participate in the candlelight vigil.
Gatherings aim to honor, aid earthquake survivors By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
With several Japanese companies and residents in Dublin, efforts to help those affected by the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami have been ongoing throughout the community. A public gathering to honor the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 20 at Dublin Baptist Church’s ARC building yielded several ideas to send help to survivors. “A lot of people have started in many different ways to do something, sometimes at a company level by donating money or through a charity drive,” said Isao Shoji, who helped organize the gathering. “Some of us thought that there needs to be a gathering where people can exchange information for a coordinated effort. We don’t want 100 different people to do 100 different things.” The gathering drew about 150 people, Shoji said, including many different cultures, ethniciSee GATHERINGS, page A2
A proposed east-west route for cyclers hit a roadblock last week after residents expressed concern and anger during a Dublin City Council meeting. During a March 14 meeting, council members heard three options for bike lanes and a pedestrian path along Brand Road, between Dublin Road and Muirfield Drive. City engineer Paul Hammersmith told council he had looked into three alternatives and how they would affect utilities and residential property, as well as other construction impacts. A view of the three options was the first step in the process. Hammersmith requested guidance from council on a preferred option to take to neighboring residents. Dublin included about $2-million into the 2011 capital improvement plan to fund the path, with money from the parkland acquisition fund set aside for easements and right-of-way acquisition. The first alternative is an 8-foot leisure trail on one side of Brand Road. Hammersmith said the $1.1-million option would run mostly along the south side of Brand, between Muirfield Drive and Earlington Parkway-Brandonway Drive, because the north fork of Indian Run is close to the north side of the roadway. “From Earlington Parkway-Brandonway Drive to Dublin Road, the path will be run along the north side of Brand Road, where there are fewer obstructions and more open areas,” Hammersmith’s study stated. Alternative 2 involves two 4-foot bike lanes, one on each side of Brand Road. Work for the bike lanes would mean widening Brand Road and restriping it. The option would cost $1.6-million. Hammersmith said little land acquisition would be required for this option because most of the land needed, “generally speaking, is all within the road right of way.” The third alternative combines the first two alternatives and shows a bike lane on each side of Brand Road, in addition to a leisure trail on one side of the road. This option carried a $2.6-million price tag. Hammersmith said option 3 could “encroach” upon residents living on the south side of Brand Road because of the road widening and 8-footwide leisure trail. He also proposed and said he preferred alternative 3A, which includes bike lanes on each side See BRAND ROAD TRAILS, page A6
Dublin enjoying profits of fiber-optics rentals By JENNIFER NOBLIT ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Fiber-optics rental in Dublin over the next 10 years will mean 100-percent profit for Dublink.
Dublin City Council members last week approved a rental agreement with a new company for an optical fiber in the Dublink system, and the possibility of another leasing agreement soon
could follow. Thus far, Dublin has leased In 2009, council members au- 10 of the 12 optical fibers. The thorized city staff to lease up to leases are expected to generate 12 optical fibers through Dublink $1.8-million for the city, and the at a rate of $3,000 per month, according to a staff memo. See DUBLINK, page A7
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A closer look Thus far, Dublin has leased 10 of the 12 optical fibers. The leases are expected to generate $1.8-million for the city, and the new 10-year contract that council has approved should bring in an additional $720,000.
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